FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F°, CEV President André Meyer and their respective spouses standing in front of the state-of-the-art CEV premises in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg city, Luxembourg, May 4, 2013 – “Our international volleyball family and all other Continental Confederations shall be inspired by what CEV has achieved,” FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° said while attending the opening of the state-of-the-art premises owned by CEV in Luxembourg City. “I do invite Europe’s volleyball family to share their success story with all our friends from the other continents so that they can learn from your experience” he added.

“I am very glad to be here in this lovely city and country” the FIVB President said, “but most of all I am happy to attend this ceremony. As Mr. Meyer stressed in his opening address, you finally have got your own home. We all know that it is extremely important and a good feeling to have a place you can call your home, where you can come back and enjoy that atmosphere every human being is by nature longing for. I can only but congratulate the CEV President and all of you, national federations, for the remarkable achievements of the past years and urge you to be keen to share that know-how with other continents similarly to what Europe did in the past in other business fields. Today CEV is somehow writing history” he said, “for it is the only one among the five Continental Confederations to own its premises. Apart from this, I am just thrilled with the quality of this property and the outstanding working conditions the staff and also all officials will enjoy once they gather here for the good of our sport”.

The main features of this building that is already well-known in Luxembourg City by its house number – 488 – were discussed by Marc Clees, one of the architects who contributed to its general concept.

“This property stands out for its low-energy consumption, innovative design, comfort, and also for the raw materials used for its construction. It definitely suits to the needs and quintessence of a sports organization, whose ambition is to remain loyal to its roots and take up the challenges ahead at the same time. It is an outstanding mix between tradition and innovation”.

“Congratulations to the CEV and its President” concluded Dr. Graça who enjoyed the opportunity to have a short tour of the CEV premises accompanied by Mr. Meyer. “What we see here is an exclusive real estate with first-class facilities; a real role-model for the rest of the world to look at”.